Cordera
Cordera was founded in 2008 by sisters Mónica and María Cordera in Galicia, Spain. What began as a solo endeavour for Mónica soon grew into a shared vision when María joined to lead creative direction. United by a belief in thoughtful design and sustainable production, the Cordera sisters have built a label that reflects their own values and lifestyle.
From the outset, Cordera has operated from a small studio in A Coruña, a coastal city in the northwest of Spain. Their approach to fashion is rooted in honesty, craftsmanship, and a deep connection to place. With a hands-on team of women managing everything from design and customer service to consulting and logistics, the brand remains close to its origins while reaching a global audience.
Every piece is designed and produced locally in Galicia. The brand partners with small family-run workshops and local artisans, ensuring fair working conditions and long-term relationships across the supply chain. Cordera also works with a women-led embroidery studio in Guatemala, collaborating on intricate hand-finished details. This commitment to local and community-driven production is central to their identity and has helped define Cordera’s place in the wider world of slow fashion.
The Cordera philosophy encourages dressing with intention. It is less about reacting to trends and more about creating pieces that will stay relevant through many seasons of wear. The result is a collection of garments that feel personal, easy to wear, and consciously made.
Key Design Features
Cordera’s design language is grounded in simplicity. The brand focuses on clean lines, loose silhouettes, and thoughtful construction. Inspiration is drawn from everyday life, including architecture, landscapes, raw materials, and textures found in nature. This is reflected in a core palette of cream, navy, grey, camel, and black.
Most garments are made to one size, supporting an inclusive and practical approach that also helps reduce waste. There is confidence in each piece, from a sculptural trench coat to a relaxed drawstring pant. Shapes are neither oversized nor restrictive. Instead, they are cut to move and layer easily.
Sustainability is woven into the fabric of the brand. Cordera uses organic cotton, mulesing-free wool, soft brushed alpaca, recycled synthetics, and upcycled yarns. The brand works with Japanese knitting machines for precision, and each piece is finished by hand to ensure quality and durability.
Cordera avoids highly seasonal collections and instead builds a wardrobe of consistent, low-impact pieces that evolve gently over time. Limited production runs, conscious material sourcing, and reduced water and energy use all reflect the brand’s long-term environmental goals.
There is no excess in Cordera’s design, only quiet detail, such as a dropped shoulder here, a hand-stitched seam there. The effect is calm and considered, offering space for the wearer’s personality to take the lead.
Key Products and Collections
Cordera’s collections centre around functional wardrobe staples with refined proportions. The brand’s most recognisable pieces include its cut-out tops, knitted waistcoats, baggy trousers, oversized shirts, and soft alpaca sweaters.
The Linen Pants are a favourite, cut with a wide leg and lace detailing for comfort and design. The Embellished Striped Shirt, made in crisp cotton, is finished with a beaded collar and back pleats that bring extra volume and texture. Other staples like the Knitted Vest and Waistcoat serve as layering tools across the seasons.
Knitwear is the brand’s signature category, offering tactile sweaters and accessories in organic and mulesing-free fibres. For Pre-Fall 25, Cordera introduces two standout pieces: the Balloon Trench Coat, cut in a sculptural cocoon shape that drapes naturally, and the Handmade Beaded Mini Dress. The latter is a key piece, created in partnership with a women’s community in Central America. Beaded entirely by hand, it features flower motifs across a cream base and reflects the brand’s connection to craftsmanship and slow process.
Explore Cordera knitwear, shirts, and trousers in the Women’s Clothing and New Arrivals collections at Couverture & The Garbstore.
Styling and Similar Brands
Cordera’s womenswear is built for everyday dressing and can be styled with other understated but design-focused labels. Try pairing a relaxed Cordera knit with wide-leg trousers by YMC or 7115 by Szeki, or layer a crisp cotton shirt beneath a patterned Milena Silvano jacket for a contrast in textures.
Footwear from Salomon or Paraboot adds a functional touch, working well with Cordera’s sculptural shapes and soft tailoring. For accessories, style pieces with a colourful Kapital bandana or a structured bag from Porter Yoshida & Co.
While Cordera does not lean heavily into statement pieces, it excels in layering and tonal dressing. The effect is one of quiet texture and soft contrast, encouraging the wearer to build an intentional wardrobe over time.
Cultural Impact and Collaborations
Cordera’s presence has grown steadily through Japan, Europe, and the United States. The brand has earned respect for its integrity and clarity of purpose. Collaborations are rare and meaningful, with a focus on small artisan communities and long-standing partnerships.
The beaded dress for Pre-Fall 25 is a recent example of how Cordera blends design with social purpose. Created with a women-led workshop in Central America, the piece brings global handcraft into conversation with European minimalism.
Cordera’s influence can be felt in the wider shift toward slow fashion and mindful consumption. It stands as a consistent voice within an industry that is learning to move at a slower pace.
At Couverture & The Garbstore, we carry a selection of Cordera’s latest and most considered pieces, from brushed wool knits to crisp cotton shirts and tactile accessories. Each garment is made in Spain using low-impact methods and natural materials.
Explore Cordera Women’s to discover refined silhouettes, relaxed tailoring, and thoughtful layering pieces designed to grow with you over time.
